Mapping a New Path for Safe Development in PV and ESS Sectors at 2026 Summit

2026 PV and ESS Safety Industry Summit

On June 24, 2026, during Intersolar Europe, Huawei Digital Power, along with global partners, hosted an inaugural summit focused on safety standards for photovoltaic installations (PV) and energy storage systems (ESS) in Munich. The summit aimed to address pressing safety issues and insurance coverage gaps surrounding large-scale PV and ESS solutions as the world navigates the ongoing energy transition.

This event brought together recognized experts, industry association leaders, and insurance representatives for an in-depth discussion on energy storage safety standards, fire-related emergency challenges, evolving testing procedures, and innovations in insurance solutions, thus forging a new pathway toward reliable and safe development.

Addressing Safety in PV and ESS

Xia Hesheng, Vice President of Huawei Digital Power, emphasized that safety in PV and ESS systems is not an optional aspect of the new energy system's development. It is essential. He reiterated that this isn't merely a singular technological breakthrough but rather the convergence of numerous fields such as electrochemistry, thermal management, power electronics, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence. Huawei's long-term investment strategy is underpinned by the principle of “quality first,” focusing on innovations in safety technologies for PV and ESS systems to ensure security throughout the entire supply chain.

Moreover, Huawei aims to deepen the integration of quantitative safety assessment with insurance mechanisms, thereby contributing to the high-quality evolution of the renewable energy sector.

Global Safety Breakthroughs and Challenges

Gerrit Lührung, Director of System Infrastructure and Battery Energy Storage Systems at Bundesverband Energiespeicher Systeme e. V. (BVES), highlights that, amid an “energy supply crisis,” energy storage has transitioned from a trading tool to a critical system element. Currently, Germany boasts an installed battery energy storage capacity of 19 GW, with growth driven by the energy, trade, and industrial sectors. Over the next three years, the industry must navigate regulatory constraints, adapt to new safety guidelines, and unlock systemic potential.

Tom Hessels, Security Advisor at the Dutch Public Safety Institute (NIPV), pointed out the increasing number of battery fires and stressed the challenge posed by “isolated information sources.” He called for the sharing of data from research conducted according to UL 9540A standards (such as the duration of uncontrolled temperature rise) and for manufacturers to provide round-the-clock support to fill the information gap between fire departments and producers.

Mikel Arrese-Igor, Senior Energy Storage Engineer at DNV, noted that approximately 70% of BESS system faults occur at the system level. Comprehensive testing, like those performed at Huawei’s LUNA2000, allows for the validation of safety philosophy and a safety-oriented approach from the design stage. The industry will likely adjust testing standards to the “installation level,” considering potential scenarios of fire spreading involving surrounding non-battery systems.

Bill Reaugh, Director of Solar Energy and Principal Engineer at the German Association of Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers (VDE), stated that the energy systems' transition brings new threats. Safety must evolve from component levels to an ecosystem approach utilizing digital trust models. Security and protection encompass the entire product lifecycle and form a closed-loop system, including design, manufacturing, and operational stages.

Technical Excellence and Financial Empowerment

Zhu Jun, Director of Products in Huawei Digital Power's Utility GFM ESS Division, pointed out that the industry faces four notable challenges: uncontrolled temperature rise, high-voltage insulation failure, energy network disruptions, and the absence of digitalization. He suggested the need for a framework for quantitative safety assessment that encompasses the entire product lifecycle, aiming to elevate risk levels from “risk-limiting zone B” to “acceptable zone C.” Huawei has established a network of safeguards based on the principle of “passive protection and proactive warning,” implementing heat-resistant insulation, high-pressure smoke ventilation systems, smart string architectures, and AI-based early warning technologies to guarantee that uncontrolled temperature rises do not occur in extreme situations.

Alastair Nicklin ACII, Senior Business Development Director at Willis Natural Resources, WTW, advocated for the insurance sector to transition towards a “design as risk control” paradigm. This involves quantitatively determining the equation “risk probability × damage scale” to create a three-dimensional defense mechanism that encompasses physical, financial, and environmental dimensions, including extending fire distances to ensure microenvironmental insulation and enhancing equipment repair systems to safeguard against revenue loss while shifting compliance to resilience that goes beyond standards.

During the summit, a White Paper on “grid-forming” ESS safety was released, which focused on frameworks for quantitative assessment, attack-defense testing systems, and paths for digitization. It analyzed the logic of “reinforcing defense through offense,” data-driven approaches, and closed-loop iterations, providing guidelines for R&D efforts, regulatory processes, and constructions, steering the industry towards a unified security paradigm.

By addressing these critical issues openly, the industry is better positioned to foster safe and reliable advancements in photovoltaic and energy storage technologies, ensuring a sustainable energy future.